英字新聞
読売、毎日、朝日各社英字新聞の主として社説を学習研究します

クリック課金ありのプログラムだけで1日10円くらいになります。
やらないよりはましといったところです。

長女カイちゃんは、現在中学二年生。
成績は600人の学年で一番を維持しています。
カイちゃんが小学6年生の時、スマホやパソコンでゲームばかりやっていたので、成績がクラスで40番目に落ちました。
特別につくられたクラスなので、皆、成績はずば抜けています。
カイちゃんは、普通は、30番くらいを行ったり来たりしていました。...
みかねた父親が、カイちゃんを呼んでしかりつけたことがあります。
やがて、カイちゃんが後期の試験の成績を持ってきました。
ちょうど20番です。
あの特別クラスですから、20人ごぼう抜きは、ものすごいことです。
父親はいたく感動させられてしまいました。
娘は胸を張っていました。
いまでも、わたしの記憶に、くっきりと焼きついています。

My eldest daughter Kai-chan is now a junior high school second grader.
Kai-chan is able to keep No.1 rank in 600 students.
When Kai-chan was in the sixth grade of elementary school, she was doing only games on a smart phone or a personal computer, so her rank fell to the 40th in class.
Because the class is a specially made for entering university, everyone has excellent ability.
Kai-chan usually goes back and forth about 30 th. rank.
So father had got in touched with Kai-chan to rectify the situation.
Eventually, Kai-chan had brought the test result of the second term examination.
The rank was just 20th rank in the class.
Because she is in the special class, it is amazing to roll over 20 students.
Father was deeply touched.
My daughter seemed to be dignified.
Even now, I still remember the incidence clearly as if it is burned to my memory.

October 01, 2016 from VOA
Meltwater Lakes in Antarctica Show Signs of Trouble

Antarctica is home to the largest ice mass on Earth.

The continent sits on 14 million square kilometers of rock. About 98 percent of the land surface is covered by ice.

Beautiful lakes have begun to appear on the top of the ice. They look like islands of deep blue in an ocean of white. These lakes are called supraglacial or meltwater lakes.

Although the lakes can be beautiful, the ones scientists studied are a sign of trouble. Amber Leeson is a scientist with Lancaster University in England.

"We really weren't expecting to find lakes as far inland as 20 kilometers, which was the furthest inland lake we found during the study. And it was important that we found the link between the atmospheric temperature and the depth, number, and size of the lakes..."

Scientists say Antarctica has always had supraglacial lakes appearing on the ice during the summer months. But the more lakes there are, the more unstable they make the continent’s ice shelf.

Ice shelves are permanent, but floating pieces of ice that connect to the land. They form where a glacier or ice sheet reaches a coastline and into the sea.

Leeson says water from the lakes can drip down through the glacier, causing the huge river of ice and snow to weaken.

"If they form on the grounded ice, which is the bit of the ice sheet that sits on the bedrock, then the water they contain can drain away through the ice to the base, where it can lubricate the flow of the ice and make it flow a bit faster. If they form on the floating part of the ice, which is where the ice shelf extends over the ocean and begins to float on the sea, by repeatedly filling and draining they can actually weaken the ice shelf."

Leeson and other scientists believe that lakes are partly responsible for the collapse of the Antarctica ice sheets.

"...the Larsen B ice shelf collapsed in 2002 and we think that this is because it was covered in lakes in the years prior to collapse, and that by repeatedly filling and draining, they weaken the ice sheet, leading to its eventual disintegration..."

And as temperatures rise, the team expects to see more and more lakes appearing in the continent. The scientists fear that all that meltwater could raise the world's sea levels.

I’m Marsha James.

Marsha James wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Her story includes information from an Associated Press report. George Grow was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

____________________________________________________

Words in This Story

ice mass - n. a large piece of ice

supraglacial lake – n. any pond of liquid water on the top of a glacier

ice sheet – n. a very large and thick area of ice that covers a region

ice shelf – n. a floating sheet of ice permanently attached to a land mass

glacier – n. an large areas of ice formed from falling snow and building up over the years

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Democratic presidential candidate Clinton calls for national, global unity
米大統領選　団結を求めたクリントン候補

In the U.S. presidential election, the difference in outlook has become clear between Republican nominee Donald Trump, who advocates an “America first” policy, and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, who calls for international cooperation and national reconciliation.
　米大統領選で、「米国第一主義」を唱える共和党のドナルド・トランプ氏と、国際協調や国民融和を訴える民主党のヒラリー・クリントン氏の立場の違いが鮮明になった。

Clinton, a former secretary of state, was nominated as a presidential candidate at the Democratic convention, kicking off the full-fledged election campaign.
　民主党大会でクリントン前国務長官が大統領候補に指名され、本格的な選挙戦が始まった。

In her acceptance speech, Clinton said, “We’ve reached a milestone in our nation’s march toward a more perfect union,” emphasizing the significance of having been nominated as the first female presidential candidate of a major party.
　クリントン氏は指名受諾演説で「我々はより完全な国になるための転換点に達した」と述べ、主要政党として初の女性大統領候補が生まれた意義を強調した。

The important thing is that Clinton spelled out her commitment to reinforce alliances, saying, “We are stronger when we work with our allies around the world.”
　重要なのは、クリントン氏が「米国は世界の同盟国と協力した時、より強くなる」と語り、同盟強化を打ち出したことである。

When Clinton was secretary of state, she promoted the policy of attaching importance to Asia. She was the first within the administration to make clear that the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture are covered by Article 5 of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, which stipulates that the United States is obliged to defend Japan.
　クリントン氏は国務長官時代に、アジア重視政策を推進した。沖縄県の尖閣諸島が、米国の対日防衛義務を定めた日米安保条約５条の適用対象であることを政権内でいち早く明言していた。

It is also reassuring for Japan that there are more than a few people within the Clinton camp who are knowledgeable about Japan, including Kurt Campbell, a former assistant secretary of state.
　陣営にキャンベル前国務次官補ら知日派が少なくないことも、日本にとっては心強い材料だ。

While making no direct reference to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade accord, Clinton went only so far as to express her opposition to “unfair trade deals” in her speech. We can rate positively that she left some room for the U.S. ratification of the accord, while paying consideration to left-wingers within the party who oppose the TPP.
　クリントン氏は演説で、環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）には直接言及せず、「不公正な貿易協定」への反対を表明するだけにとどめた。ＴＰＰに反発する党内左派に配慮しつつ、批准の余地を残したことは評価できる。

Japan must help U.S. ratify TPP

It is vital for Japan to move ahead swiftly with procedures for Diet approval so as to create an environment that will make it easier for the United States to ratify the pact.
　日本が国会の承認手続きを迅速に進め、米国が批准しやすい環境を整えることが欠かせない。

Clinton criticized Trump, who advocates an exclusionary immigration policy, saying, “He wants to divide us — from the rest of the world, and from each other.” She said, “People are looking for steady leadership,” and promoted her feasible policies.
　排他的な移民政策を掲げるトランプ氏に対し、クリントン氏は「世界や米国の分断を望んでいる」と非難した。「国民は堅実な指導者を求めている」と述べ、実行可能な政策をアピールした。

At the Democratic convention, U.S. President Barack Obama, Sen. Bernie Sanders, who had fiercely vied with Clinton for the Democratic presidential candidacy, and others made speeches in support of Clinton. It can be said that she succeeded in orchestrating a reconciliation within the party.
　民主党大会では、オバマ大統領や、候補の座を激しく争ったバーニー・サンダース上院議員らが応援演説を行った。党内融和の演出には成功したと言えよう。

A challenge for Clinton is her record-low popularity as a presidential candidate, similar to Trump’s. During her tenure as secretary of state, Clinton used her private e-mail address for communication of classified information against the state department’s rules.
　課題は、トランプ氏と同様、好感度が大統領候補として記録的に低いことだ。長官在任中、国務省の規定に反し、私用メールアドレスで機密情報を扱った。

Judicial authorities did not bring charges against Clinton over the case but said she was “extremely careless.”
司法当局は立件を見送ったが、「極めて不注意だった」と指摘した。

When the scandal was uncovered, she initially refused to explain her case in detail or to apologize. This may have led to a national sentiment that she cannot be trusted.
　発覚当初、十分な説明も謝罪も拒んだことが、「信用できない」という国民感情につながっているのではないか。

Clinton, who was a first lady and also served as a senator, has been regarded as “a symbol of the establishment” by young people and others who support Sanders.
　大統領夫人や上院議員も務めたクリントン氏は、サンダース氏を支持する若者らから、「既存の支配層の象徴」と目されてきた。

During the presidential campaign, she needs not only to make her claim to be the “anti-Trump,” but also to win support of those who are discontented about the present state of things. Otherwise, she may not even be able to unite the whole nation.
　選挙戦では、「反トランプ」を主張するだけでなく、現状に不満を抱く人々の支持を得なければ、国全体の団結も実現できまい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 31, 2016)

--The Asahi Shimbun, July 27
（社説）ロ事件４０年　浄化の道なお遠く
EDITORIAL: Corrupt politics linger 4 decades after Lockheed bribery scandal

July 27 marked the 40th anniversary of the arrest of Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka over the Lockheed bribery scandal.
　ロッキード事件で田中角栄元首相が逮捕されて、きょう２７日でちょうど４０年になる。

Even after he was indicted on criminal charges, Tanaka (1918-1993) led a massive faction within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and wielded huge political clout by playing kingmaker. Since then, the landscape in Nagatacho, the political power center in Tokyo, has changed dramatically. Factions within the LDP have sunk into political irrelevance. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has acquired so much political power that many pundits are lamenting the lack of political forces that can pose a serious challenge to his leadership.
However, one thing remains unchanged in Japanese politics. It is the power of money that keeps breeding graft and corruption.
　刑事被告人になっても大派閥を率い、首相の座をも左右した田中支配時代と、派閥が力を失い、対抗勢力の不在を嘆く声がしきりの首相一強の現在と。永田町の光景は様変わりしたが、変わらないものがある。
　政治とカネをめぐる病だ。

During the past four decades, a series of steps have been taken to tackle the problem. The electoral systems of both houses of the Diet have been reformed. The Political Fund Control Law has been revised to remove special-interest money from politics, while the guilt-by-association rule concerning elections has been enhanced.
But the politicians who created the new rules have installed convenient loopholes. The current situation is nowhere close to the elimination of doubt and the restoration of public trust in politics.
　この間、衆参両院の選挙制度が改まり、政治資金規正法の見直しや連座制の強化など、それなりの手だてが講じられてはきた。だが法律をつくる政治家自身の手によって抜け道もしっかり用意され、疑惑の根絶と信頼の回復にはほど遠い。

Just recently, Akira Amari resigned as economy minister over his dubious relations with a construction company. And a month ago Tokyo Governor Yoichi Masuzoe stepped down after he failed to offer convincing explanations about his seemingly inappropriate use of political funds.
　最近も、業者との不透明な関係を追及され、甘利明氏が経済再生担当相を辞任した。舛添要一氏が政治資金の使途の疑念にこたえられないまま、都庁を去ったのは１カ月前のことだ。

Despite all these and other money scandals involving politicians, lawmakers, especially those of the LDP, remain reluctant to make any vigorous response to the deep-seated problem.
　にもかかわらず政治の側、とりわけ自民党の動きは鈍い。

During their campaigns for the July 10 Upper House election, most parties other than the LDP, including the LDP’s junior coalition partner, Komeito, the main opposition Democratic Party, the Japanese Communist Party and the Initiatives from Osaka, promised to take measures to clean up the rot in politics, although their proposals differed in content and strength.
The promised measures included imposing stronger responsibility on politicians to oversee the acts of their secretaries, injecting greater transparency into the expenditures of political funds and state-financed expenses for political activities, and banning political donations by companies and other organizations.
　先の参院選で、公明、民進、共産、おおさか維新などの各党は、主張する内容や濃淡に違いはあったものの、秘書に対する政治家の監督責任の強化、政治資金や国から支払われる活動経費の透明化、企業・団体献金の禁止など、浄化へのとり組みをそれぞれ公約にかかげた。

But the LDP, which has Amari among its members and supported Masuzoe in the previous Tokyo gubernatorial election, made no reference to this problem in its campaign platform.
　ところが甘利氏が所属し、前回の都知事選で舛添氏をかついだ自民党は、政策集の中でこの問題にいっさい触れなかった。

This kind of attitude only widens the distance between citizens and politics and deepens public cynicism.
　こうした姿勢が、ふつうの人と政治との距離を広げ、不信の根を深くする。

Although the LDP won a major victory in the Upper House election, the ruling party will be long remembered for its failure to make a serious response to scandals involving its members and allies.
選挙には勝ったが、「身内の醜聞にも正面から向き合わない」との評価は、この先ついてまわるだろう。

We urge the other parties, including Komeito, to make nonpartisan efforts to find common ground on this issue and create a situation that prods the reluctant LDP into action.
　公明をふくむ他の政党は、与野党の垣根をこえて合意点を探り、自民党が重い腰を上げざるを得ない状況をつくりだしてほしい。

What they should do first is to make all flows of money into politics completely transparent and establish a system in which citizens can always check and evaluate the flows.
まずとり組むべきは、すべてのカネの流れをガラス張りにして、市民が常に点検し評価できる環境を整えることだ。

Tanaka left another big blot in the history of Japanese politics.
　田中氏に関してはもう一つ、忘れてはならない汚点がある。

One and a half years before he was arrested, Tanaka was forced to resign as prime minister amid allegations about his shady financial connections. At that time, he pledged to “clarify the truth someday to win people’s understanding.”
　逮捕の１年半前、いわゆる金脈問題がとどめとなって首相を辞した際、氏は「いずれ真実を明らかにして、国民の理解を得てまいりたい」と表明した。

But he died without carrying out his promise. Now, both Amari and Masuzoe remain silent about the allegations against them, apparently waiting for the storm of criticism to pass.
　しかし約束はついに果たされなかった。そしていま、甘利、舛添両氏とも、自らの疑惑についてだんまりを決めこみ、批判の嵐が過ぎるのを待つ。

Nowadays, there is a growing wave of positive reviews about Tanaka’s political record, probably due in part to nostalgic feelings about his era, when the Japanese economy was growing rapidly.
　右肩上がりだった時代への郷愁も手伝ってか、田中氏再評価の動きがさかんだ。

But the dark role of big money in politics and politicians’ inability to be honest and straightforward with the public about money are both negative legacies from the era that still haunt Japanese politics 40 years after the downfall of the powerful, but corrupt politician.
だがカネをめぐる黒い体質と国民に対する不実は、４０年を経てなお、清算されていない負の遺産である。

--The Asahi Shimbun, June 25
EDITORIAL: ‘Brexit’ vote must not trigger wave of global nationalism
（社説）英国がＥＵ離脱へ　内向き志向の連鎖を防げ

The British people’s decision to pull their country out of the European Union has sent shock waves across the world.
　英国の民意が世界に衝撃を走らせた。

The stunning decision could turn out to be the biggest tectonic shift in the world order since the end of the Cold War.
冷戦が終わって以降の世界秩序の中で、最大の地殻変動となりかねない出来事だ。

A majority of votes cast in the June 23 referendum on whether to leave the EU or remain in the bloc were for “Brexit.” Britons have decided that their country should not be part of an integrated Europe.
　欧州連合（ＥＵ）からの離脱か残留かを問うた国民投票で、離脱が過半数を占めた。英国は統合欧州の一員であるべきではない、との結論である。

Since the end of World War II, Europe has moved steadily toward integration. Britain’s withdrawal from the EU will be a historic development that runs counter to this movement, launched with a pledge of no more war in Europe.
　先の大戦後、不戦の誓いを起点に脈々と前進してきた欧州統合の歩みが、初めて逆行する。

Britain is the second largest economy in Europe and has unique global influence, a legacy of the British Empire. Its secession from the EU will have immeasurable effects on the entire world.
域内第２の経済力と、かつての覇権国家として特異な影響力をもつ英国の離脱は、計り知れない波紋を広げるだろう。

The outcome of the referendum is also a sign of the British people's will to resist globalization, which has accelerated since the end of the Cold War. They have run out of patience with the trend of many countries sharing rules on important issues such as immigration and trade.
　この英国民の選択は、冷戦後加速したグローバル化に対する抵抗の意思表示でもある。移民や貿易など様々なルールを多くの国々で共有する流れに、国民の辛抱が続かなかった。

This anti-globalization sentiment is, however, not unique to Britain. In the United States and in other parts of Europe, groups trying to take advantage of growing public resentment toward globalization to promote their political agenda for closing the doors of their nations are gaining ground.
　それは英国特有の現象ではない。米国や欧州各国でも、グローバル化に矛先が向く国民の不満に乗じて国を閉ざそうという主張が勢いを増している。

At a time when countries should make united efforts to counter burgeoning narrow-minded nationalism, Britain has opted to take the path of expanding the scope of its unilateral actions. In mapping out its future course, Britain will have to navigate through uncharted waters.
　ナショナリズムの台頭に、主要国がいっそう結束を強めて立ち向かうべきときに、英国自身が単独行動を広げる道を選ぶというのだ。これからの英国の針路は海図なき航海となろう。

No matter how the country’s negotiations with the EU over its withdrawal pan out, the two sides should not lose sight of the importance of maintaining close cooperation.
　今後の離脱交渉の行方がどうなるにせよ、英国とＥＵは連携の関係を見失ってはならない。

Britain and the EU can secure mutual benefits and contribute to stability in the world only when they work closely together to tackle challenges.
両者は協調し合ってこそ、互いに利益を高め、ひいては世界の安定に資することができる。

We strongly hope that the two sides will figure out a way to build a new constructive relationship without undermining the movement toward European integration.
　欧州統合の流れに水を差すことなく、英国とＥＵ双方が新たな建設的関係を築く落着点を何とか探ってほしい。

CHALLENGE IS HOW TO HEAL THE DIVISION
　■分断の修復が課題

The outcome of this referendum should not be allowed to serve as a starting point for a new, dark chapter of world history in which citizens around the world become estranged from one another.
　この投票結果を、世界の市民が離反し合う不幸な歴史の起点にしてはならない。

The first thing is to heal the rift in British society. The bitterly fought referendum left the nation sharply divided.
そのために、まず修復すべきは足元の英国社会だ。激戦となった国民投票は、英国民を分断した。

Campaign debates were often dominated by remarks designed to emphasize the threats of an economic crisis or immigrants.
　論戦では、経済危機や移民の脅威をあおる言動が相次いだ。

Amid heightened tensions due to a heated confrontation between the two camps, a member of parliament in the Remain camp was shot to death.
対立感情が高ぶった空気の中で、残留派の国会議員が射殺されるという痛ましい事件も起きた。

British society is now gripped by a dangerously charged atmosphere.
英国社会には、いまも不穏な空気が漂っている。

Prime Minister David Cameron, who passionately called for votes to remain in the EU, has announced he will step down by autumn.
　残留を唱えたキャメロン首相は秋までに辞任する意向を示した。

It is, to be sure, natural for the country to have a new leader to draw up a road map for the future.
確かに、今後の国の針路を描くうえで新しい指導者を選出するのは自然なことだろう。

But his own Conservative Party has been divided between the Leave and the Remain camps. Scotland, which has a strong sense of belonging to the EU, could make a fresh attempt to become independent.
　ただ、首相が属する保守党内も両派で割れている。ＥＵへの帰属意識の高いスコットランドは改めて独立へ動きかねない。

Britain seems to be in for a prolonged period of political turmoil.
政治の混乱は尾を引きそうだ。

Both Cameron and his successor will have to act swiftly to heal the rift within the country and create a conductive environment for cool-headed discussions on the country’s relations with the EU and its position in the world.
　キャメロン首相も後継者も、国内でくすぶる対立を鎮め、ＥＵとの関係や、世界での英国の立ち位置を冷静に考える環境づくりを急がねばなるまい。

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION KEY
　■国際協調の道こそ

Britain, which had a mighty empire in the 19th century, entered a period of serious stagnation in the late 20th century. It was able to shed stagnation and attain new prosperity because it opened its door to the world and rode the wave of globalization to enhance its competitiveness, especially in the financial services industry.
　１９世紀の世界を制した英国は２０世紀後半、深刻な停滞の時期を迎えた。その苦悩から脱し、繁栄を築けたのは、積極的に国を開いてグローバル経済の波に乗り、金融を筆頭に様々な得意分野を広げたからだ。

But British citizens who have not benefited from their country’s economic growth have become increasingly disgruntled with the system and worried about their future. As a result, British society as a whole has developed an inward-looking attitude.
　ただ、その恩恵が届かない市民の不満や不安は高まり、全体的に内向き志向が強まった。

Besides people drawn to the reactionary argument that Britain should regain “sovereignty,” many other Britons voted for leaving the EU because of their economic discontent.
復古的な主権回復派だけでなく、経済の不満から離脱を選んだ国民が多かったとみられる。

Despite the fact that their country has achieved economic growth due to the lowered barriers of national borders, British people have made clear their wish to see high border walls built up again.
　国境の垣根が低くなったことで経済が発展しながら、国民感情は国境の壁の再建を望む。

This twisted public psychology has also been behind the Trump Phenomenon in the United States and the recent rise of rightist political forces in many other European countries.
そんな倒錯した状況から生まれるものとしては、米国のトランプ現象や、欧州各国での右翼の躍進もほぼ同じ脈絡にある。

Britain’s decision could trigger a wave of movements toward secession from the EU in other member countries.
　英国に続けとばかりに、他のＥＵ加盟国でも離脱の機運が高まりかねない。

If in such a political climate Trump is elected U.S. president and Marine Le Pen, the leader of the rightist National Front of France, is elected French president next year, the world will be filled with policies of intolerance.
もし米国の大統領選でもトランプ氏が当選したら、さらに来年のフランス大統領選で右翼ルペン氏が勝つような事態になれば、世界は不寛容な政策に満ちてしまう。

The situation where the world is dominated by this inward-looking trend must be prevented.
　内向き志向の潮流が、世界を覆う事態を防がねばならない。

The spread of narrow-minded and self-centered unilateralism among countries will make it impossible for the world to grapple with challenges such as global warming, the proliferation of terrorism and loopholes in taxation.
偏狭な一国中心の考え方が広がれば、地球温暖化やテロ対策、租税問題など、地球規模の問題に対処する能力を世界は鍛えることができなくなってしまう。

It is difficult for any industrial nation to maintain its political health.
　どの先進国も、政治のかじ取りが難しい時代である。

Low economic growth, declining welfare standards due to fiscal strains and widening income gaps are formidable problems common to industrial nations. Politicians everywhere are struggling to find effective solutions to these problems.
低成長と財政難による福祉水準の低下や格差の拡大という問題が共通し、どの国の政治家も解決策どころか有権者への効果的な説明すら見いだしあぐねている。

That’s why expanding international cooperation is the only option for countries in tackling these tough challenges.
　だからこそ、国際協調しか道はない。

All nations should reflect afresh on the fact that the only way to deal with problems transcending national borders is through cooperative actions based on collective experiences and wisdom.
国境を超える問題への対処の道は、各国の経験と知恵を結集した行動しかないことを改めて考えるべきだろう。

We hope Europe will not lose its solid status as a strong, consistent voice for freedom and democratic values.
　自由と民主主義の価値を唱える欧州の強い存在感をこれからも失わないでほしい。

RESPOND TO MARKET TURBULENCE
　■市場の動揺に対処を

The impact of Britain’s decision to leave the EU has roiled stock and currency markets. Leading nations should first focus on responding to confusion in financial markets.
　今回の英国の決定による影響は、株式・為替市場の動揺となって広がっている。まずは眼前の混乱への取り組みが必要だ。

In addition to Britain and the EU, the Group of Seven major industrial nations, which also includes Japan and the United States, should play the leading role in securing emergency policy coordination to calm the unnerved markets.
　英国とＥＵだけでなく、日米なども加わる主要７カ国（Ｇ７）が中心となって、市場の不安をおさえるよう緊急の協調体制を築きたい。

The central banks of the major countries, including the Bank of Japan, are apparently prepared to cooperate in providing cash-strapped financial institutions with dollars.
　日本銀行など各国の中央銀行は金融機関へのドル資金の供給で協力しあう構えだ。

If an unpredictable situation or the necessity of emergency responses arises, they should take flexible and powerful actions in solid cooperation to prevent a full-blown financial crisis.
不測の事態や必要が生じたときには、柔軟かつ強力に危機防止で連携してほしい。